Singaporeans’ collective efforts form the strongest Total Defence that cannot be easily broken and that resulted in Singapore having one of the lowest Covid-19 death rates in the world, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.
Emphasising the power of Total Defence in facing any threats, he added that our healthcare system is not broken, economy is kept intact and even expanded for some sectors and there remains law and order in Singapore.
“This is the power of Total Defence in facing any threat.”
Minister Ng was speaking in a video message that commemorates Total Defence Day today (Feb 15). This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942 and the 55th anniversary of National Service.
Total Defence is made up of six pillars, namely Military, Civil, Economic, Social, Digital and Psychological Defence.
While National Service remains the strongest commitment to Military Defence, for Total Defence to succeed, every Singaporean needs to do his or her part if we are to overcome the enemy that we have been facing for the past two years, he added.
“Singapore has indeed been putting up Total Defence against an enemy that threatened death and destruction of our way of life,” said Minister Ng.
And in the past two years, Singapore has witnessed many examples of the different pillars of Total Defence in action against Covid-19.
Singaporeans stepped up to support each other, ensuring moral remains up for Psychological Defence; economic agencies worked hard to ensure Singapore continues to receive essential items for Economic Defence; everyone played their part to wear masks or reduce contact with each other for Civil Defence; groups reached out spontaneously to assist healthcare workers, foreign workers and the elderly for Social Defence; and many spoke out against fake news on vaccines for Digital Defence.
“As we mark Total Defence Day this year, let us reaffirm our commitment, so that together we can overcome any challenge that comes our way in the future, to continually keep Singapore safe, secure and sovereign,” he concluded.
You can watch the full video here.